Chelsea fans turn on Enzo Maresca after ’embarrassing’ decision he made with one player during Ipswich defeat

Chelsea’s title ambitions have taken a significant hit following a string of poor results, leaving them in fourth place and under mounting pressure. Earlier this month, the Blues appeared to be Liverpool’s biggest challengers after a strong victory over Spurs, but their form has since collapsed.

A frustrating goalless draw with Everton was followed by a late loss to Fulham at home, and their struggles continued with a 2-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Ipswich Town. Liam Delap opened the scoring with a controversial penalty before former Chelsea academy graduate Omari Hutchinson doubled the lead early in the second half.

Manager Enzo Maresca now finds himself under scrutiny, with fans criticizing his tactical decisions against Ipswich. One decision, in particular, sparked outrage: the deployment of center-back Axel Disasi at right-back, despite Reece James, Malo Gusto, and Josh Acheampong all being available on the bench.

Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their frustrations, labeling the decision “embarrassing.” One user wrote, “Enzo Maresca has 3 RB’s on the bench and still chose to start Disasi. Embarrassing.” Another added, “All on Maresca. You cannot play Axel Disasi at right back. He’s inept.” Others questioned Disasi’s overall ability, with one saying, “Disasi is quite simply a horrific footballer… To routinely play him the way Maresca does is baffling.”

Chelsea’s poor run has allowed Newcastle to close the gap, with the Magpies now just three points behind after their impressive 2-0 win against Manchester United. The Blues will look to turn things around as they face Crystal Palace on Saturday in the Premier League before hosting Morecambe in the FA Cup third round on January 11.

For now, Chelsea’s focus will be on ending their three-game winless streak and regaining momentum as the season enters a critical phase.